Sharks Circling World League Qualification

Despite a performance coach John Fox would prefer to forget the Aussie Sharks – Australia’s men’s water polo team – have dispatched host nation Japan 10-4 in their FINA World League Preliminary match in Chiba.

The London Olympic bound Sharks only led by 3-1 at halftime against their lower ranked opponents, allowing the Japanese countless scoring opportunities whilst making poor decisions themselves in attack.

Fortunately for the Sharks goalkeeper Joel Dennerley continued his rich vein of form that now has him classed as one of the world’s best. Dennerley was outstanding in goals repelling four Japanese counter attacks, two in extra man defence and four perimeter shots for a much needed 10 saves.

Fox was disappointed with his side’s performance and let his players know after the match.

“Japan were allowed too many scoring opportunities and unnecessary pressure was placed on our goalkeeper,” Fox fumed.

“Our counter attacks went begging with slow ball delivery to the break or poor decision making allowing the Japanese to defend.

“Again we struggled to put the ball in the back of the net.”

It wasn’t all bad for the Australians though with Dennerley brilliant in the cage, Rhys Howden continuing his good form with two goals and four steals, captain Sam McGregor playing hard in close to score two goals from rebounds and Beijing Olympian Anthony Martin driving home four goals including the team’s only counter attack goal and two extra man goals.

The win followed Australia’s undefeated run of three matches in the first round of World League preliminaries in Shanghai last week.

The Sharks – featuring WAIS scholarship holders Jamie Beadsworth and Tim Cleland – next play fellow Olympic qualifier Kazakhstan before winding up the preliminaries against hosts China on Thursday.

– Water Polo Australia

Earlier:

The Aussie Sharks men’s water polo team have scored a vital win over London Olympic opponents Kazakhstan in their final World League Preliminary game at Shanghai overnight.

Despite a poor conversion rate in front of goals the Sharks led at every break to seal the 10-5 victory and establish a commanding lead at the top of Asia/Oceania standings.

The Sharks scored four goals from 16 attempts in the first half, compared to Kazakhstan’s three from six, to take a one goal advantage into the main break, before breaking away in the third term with a 4-1 period.

Jamie Beadsworth led the Sharks attack dominating at centre forward scoring two of his own, while Rhys Howden and Johnno Cotterill also picked up doubles. James Clark once again proved his potential with another outstanding display in the cage.

While happy with the win Howden said that it was important that the team improve their attacking combination if they were to become a force in the next few months.

“To win against an Olympic qualifier was good and the tightness of the game proves that we cannot underestimate any team we may play in London,” Howden said.

“We were given particular instructions on how to play against this team, but we did not implement the game plan very well and certainly our finishing and shot placement was poor in this game.

“Overall this week has been encouraging with good wins over China and Japan and team systems practised at training camps are falling into place.

“We just need to continue our development and make sure we are ready to fire come July.”